Page 31 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
Lilith’s eyes narrowed. “Do you still have the raven and the box it came in?”
Did Lilith not know about the album? “No.”
Lilith leaned forward. “What do you mean, no?”
“I mean I wanted to toss the whole thing into the ocean—”
Lilith gasped in outrage. “That raven is of historical importance!”
“—but my friend took it so I could not.” Probably Lilith didn’t know about the album. Even if she did, why would she care about photos of her father and one of his affairs? The answer was clear; she wouldn’t.
“Your friend… your friend took it? The raven?” Lilith clutched the arms of the chair so tightly her stacked Tiffany rings lifted off her skinny fingers. “You allowed that?”
For the first time, Kateri began to enjoy herself. “One does notallowRainbow to do anything. She is a force of nature.”
In that East Coast patrician accent that was for Kateri like nails on a chalkboard, Lilith said, “That raven is a precious artifact that belongs to the family as part of our noble inheritance. I would emphatically request of your friend that she give it back to you and you give it to the estate.”
Yes. This was definitely enjoyable. “That’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
“Rainbow took the box and didn’t tell me where she put it. I don’t know where it is.”
Enunciating clearly, Lilith said, “Go ask your friend where she put it.”
“She’s in a coma.”
“You’re joking.”
Kateri’s wisp of enjoyment evaporated. “Would that I were. Rainbow was shot in the same incident that put a bullet through me. She’s in a coma. She’s not expected to live.”
“Let’s search her house!”
There was the sister Kateri knew and despised. No compassion, no interest in another’s welfare, no kindness, only a determination to get her way at any cost. “Rainbow is still alive and searching her house would constitute breaking and entering.”
“Surely she has designated a guardian in case…”
“In case she got shot? Unlikely.” Kateri was Rainbow’s emergency contact, but she felt no need to tell a sister who would view that as an open invitation. “Her parents are currently in Nepal. We’re unable to reach them.” That, at least, was the truth.
“Unfortunate.” Lilith tapped her well-manicured nails on the arm of her chair. “Yet I don’t see what harm would come of searching her closets…”
“The main harm would be that I’d have to arrest my own sister. I am the sheriff, you know.” It was amazing how the thought of putting handcuffs on Lilith revived Kateri.
“Yes. I’m aware. Naturally,Iwouldn’t do it.”
Foolish Kateri, thinking Lilith would do physical labor. “Nor would I.”
“I suppose not. You do have a staff.”
“A staff.” Kateri glanced at the stick near at hand, then with a start comprehended Lilith’s meaning. “Ah. The Virtue Falls law enforcement team. They’re also opposed to breaking and entering. On principle.”
“I suppose it’s required. They seemed unaware that you have a sister and a family in Baltimore.”
“My sister always seemed surprised that she had a sister. And no, I don’t brag about my time in Baltimore with your family.”
“Your family, too. I would have thought it would lend you credibility to have our family in your background.”
Kateri’s hackles went up. “My family is here. On the reservation. In town. Up and down the coast. My family looks like me, not you.”
